Xiaojingchang Hutong. Valentin and I arrived in Beijing in the late afternoon. Our hotel was located in Southern Peking so we headed to closest attraction nearby – the Longtan Park. Apparently, parks cost 2RMB all around the city. Being quite tired, we had a relaxing stroll through the park. Afterwards, we finally met up with my friend Jenny, who I was so happy to see after such a long time. Together we headed onto Xiaojingchang Hutong, which is a lively neighboorhood full with restaurants, bars, shops and more in the North of the city. Starving we ended up at Dali Su for our first Chinese dinner. But more about it in my foodhopping post on Friday.

Anecdote Nr.1
On our first day we’ve already experienced our lack of Chinese to the fullest. Taking a cab is a comfortable (and so cheap) way of transportation, but not that easy if you haven’t got your address in Chinese. On our way home the taxi driver didn’t understand the address of our hotel that he dropped us off somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Of course, my iPhone let me down once again, being out of battery. Desperately, we tried to find someone who looked European asking for help. Luckily, we pumped into two – what a coincidence, German guys whose help we got the address in Chinese. Note to ourselves: always take the Chinese address with us.

I took pretty much the exact same photos in Beijing in May! Oh loved it so. If China was my relationship, Beijing is my marriage and Hong Kong my affair. One way or the other, it has such a tight grip on my heart!